B Sarah Brunskill
This is not a normal review. After watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix, I was involuntarily dragged into the light about how dangerous social media can be. The documentary, I know I almost lost you at that, but keep reading. It described how social media affects your daily life.
You would be surprised by how much.
How would you feel if a drug company was designing an extremely addictive drug to hand out to everyone you know including kids? This drug can have some very bad impacts but the people on it wouldn’t acknowledge that it was bad. The Social Dilemma talks about how social media companies program their apps to make you addicted to the app and stay on it for long periods at a time.
After watching you will begin to identify the powerful effects of social media. It can influence your decisions without you even realizing. Just like how I made you start reading this review. Don’t stop now.
How would you react to someone you knew being told exactly how much they were worth and that they would never be beautiful? Would you get angry, surprised, upset?
Social Media manipulates young users into believing in an unattainable standard of beauty. It also convinces them that the amount of likes can label their sense of worth. Only 400 likes on my post while my friend has 500? That must mean I’m not pretty, funny, or as popular.
Did you know companies collect data on you when you use their apps? They do this behind the scenes without you noticing. With this information, they keep you on their apps using things they know you like. In effect, they can control you and your habits.
According to The Social Dilemma, social media has single-handedly raised teen suicide rates by 70 percent and the rates for preteens by 151 percent. The Social Dilemma is a wake up call. The documentary brings to light many problems in our society that social media causes. Staring at our phones all day influences us and the people around us with our politics, how we look, and our sense of worth. Staying on our phones can bring many more problems we don’t even know about yet. So, if you haven’t picked what movie you’re watching tonight, I would recommend The Social Dilemma.
